Cox McCann honored for academics

November 7, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE – Zack Cox and James McCann, members of the No. 10 University of Arkansas baseball team, have been selected as 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 6 performers as announced Thursday by CoSIDA. Cox was named to the first team, while McCann earned a spot on the second team. This is the first CoSIDA academic honor for both Razorbacks.

Cox, a Louisville, Ky., native, carries a 3.34 GPA as a communication major. On the field, the sophomore infielder leads the Razorbacks and is second in the Southeastern Conference with his .443 batting average. Cox also tops the conference with 82 hits and is tied for second in the SEC for runs scored (54) with teammate Collin Kuhn. Having opened the season with a 24-game hitting streak, Cox has hit safely in 43 of Arkansas’ 45 games with 29 multi-hit performances. In a show of his leadership, his teammates voted him one of the three team captains for the 2010 season. For his outstanding play, Cox is on the watch list for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award.

McCann, a Santa Barbara, Calif., native, boasts a 3.93GPA as a communication major. Voted a team co-captain, the sophomore catcher handles a Razorback pitching staff that enters the eighth weekend of conference play with a 3.97 team ERA, the third-best mark in the SEC. Offensively, McCann is hitting .294 with five doubles, six home runs and 25 RBI. He hit his first career grand slam in Arkansas’ 14-6 victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition to his defensive work behind the plate, McCann is tied for the SEC lead with four pickoffs. He has also thrown out nine potential base stealers.

Cox is one of 14 student-athletes named to the first team, while McCann is part of the 13-member second team. To qualify for All-District selection, nominees must carry a 3.30 cumulative GPA. As a first-team member, Cox will advance to the national ballot for consideration for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.

The Razorbacks travel to Oxford, Miss., this weekend for a three-game series with 11th-ranked Ole Miss. Both teams carry a 14-7 conference record and are tied for first place in the SEC Western Division. Games one and two of the series will be televised by ESPNU with a 7 p.m. start for both contests.